VHYes is a terrifically whacked-out film with an admittedly limited audience.
One of the first films I reviewed for this site was 1987’s Amazon Women on the Moon, a collection of skits meant to emulate watching late night TV. 2019’s VHYes, coincidentally set in 1987, is another collection of skits tied together with a loose storyline. This time, it’s the result of a young boy, Ralph (Mason McNulty,) recording late night television shows and playing around with his new camcorder.
Set at Christmastime 1987, Ralph receives a camcorder as a present. He accidentally begins recording over his parents’ wedding tape. At first, he’s simply recording moments with his family. When his father (Jake Head) discovers that the camera can be connected to the TV, the movie kicks off its bizarre video collage. Along with the strange shows that he records, Ralph unwittingly documents the deterioration of his parents’ marriage.
Shot entirely on VHS and Digital Betacam, VHYes is a tribute to the wild west days of cable access shows, home shopping channels, and shot-on-video porn that sprouted like weeds in the 80s. Director Jack Henry Robbins and his co-writers, Nate Gold and Nunzio Randazzo, have captured the essence of surfing the weird and wild landscape of 1980s late night TV. With a cast that includes Reno 911!‘s Thomas Lennon and Kerri Kenney, the skits that comprise the “programming” all fall squarely within the realm of outlandish and odd. Some stand-out segments include a commercial for “Flex Creme;” a Bob Ross send-up called “Painting with Joan;” and the documentary, “Blood Files: Witch of West Covina.”
What saves VHYes from being just another collection of skits is its narrative. As Ralph tapes over his parents’ wedding footage, the marriage crumbles. It’s subtle — unlike the skits — but there’s actual emotion at the film’s core. The editing — meant to simulate channel-surfing — is marvelous. Those viewers who pay attention to what’s being shown in the bits between the skits will be rewarded. Those who don’t will miss the point completely.
My biggest problem with the movie is its ending. In a film full of weirdness, it’s not terribly surprising that the finale is a bit odd. I just found it a little too incongruous.
Other than that, VHYes is a terrifically whacked-out film with an admittedly limited audience.
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
Buy on Amazon!
